Back to Canada we go! Tonight at the CN Centre in the Northern capital of British Columbia, the Prince George Cougars and Seattle Thunderbirds will clash in Game 3 of their first round series.

Seattle did their part winning both games at home to start the series last weekend and now it will be up to the Cougars to hold serve at home in Games 3 and 4. A victory tonight gives us a series. A loss tonight gives the Cougars an incredibly tough mountain to climb moving forward.

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS                                          

OVERVIEW:

Head Coach: Steve Konowalchuk

Series Record: 2-0

Regular Season Road Record:  16-18-2-0

Streak: 4W (dating back to the regular season)

PP: 0/11 (0%)

PK: 9/11 (81.8%)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

MATHEW BARZAL: 3 Assists in Game 2. Named the game’s first star. Leads the T-Birds in playoff scoring.

KEEGAN KOLESAR: 2 goals in Game 2. Named the game’s second star.

NINE FORWARDS: With at least a single point in the series.

WHO’S ON D:

ETHAN BEAR: The game winning goal in Game 2.

JARED HAUF: A +3 in two games

ALL SIX DEFENCEMEN: A combined +12 in the series.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

LANDON BOW: 38 saves on 41 shots faced so far in the series. He’s 2-0 with a 1.37 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .927.

X-FACTOR(S):

FIVE-ON-FIVE: Have only allowed one goal against at even-strength so far in the series.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Must get better. 0/11 on the power play.

ROAD MINDSET: How much will their approach and game plan change now that they are on the road.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS

OVERVIEW:

Head Coach: Mark Holick

Series Record: 0-2

Regular Season Home Record: 21-13-1-1

Streak: 7L (Dating back to the regular season)

PP: 2/11 (18.1%)

PK: 11/11 (100%)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

JANSEN HARKINS: A goal and two assists in the series to lead the Cougars.

BRAD MORRISON, CHASE WITALA, JESSE GABRIELLE: Two points each in two games for the series.

KODY McDONALD: Will again be tasked with shutting down Mathew Barzal.

WHO’S ON D:

JOE CARVALHO: One assist in the series.

SAM RUOPP: Continues to log major minutes in all situations.

LAST CHANGE: A big bonus for the Cougars who can match up their top defencemen against Seattle’s top forwards easier.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

TY EDMONDS: The best Cougar so far in the playoffs. He’s stopped 87 of the 93 shots he’s faced. His record in the playoffs is 0-1-1-0 with a .935 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against-average.

X-FACTOR(S):

LARGE HOME CROWD: Will be a positive factor for the Cougars as it always seems to be.

McDONALD, HARRISON, BOYD: Will be tasked with shutting down the Barzal/Kolesar duo.

FIVE-ON-FIVE: Need more shots, chances and goals. That means going to the tough areas and paying the price for quality offensive changes.